Priya Lakhani is an entrepreneur who has founded a food business, a social  enterprise, and now leads a company developing the latest artificial intelligence  and big data technology to understand how the brain learns.  

Having trained as a barrister, Priya left the security of the legal profession to  pursue her passion for business. She founded the Masala Masala food brand and  built it from a kitchen table idea to a line of products stocked in major  supermarkets. After this initial success she went on establish a charity based on the  model that for every unit of a product sold, a life-changing item was donated (for  example, a meal, a vaccination) to those in need.  

Priya’s next business, Century Tech, is a company bringing together AI,  neuroscience and education. Century’s aim is to measure and simulate brain  responses to tuition, analyse what works for whom and how, and ultimately  produce personalised learning. By understanding how the brain learns and  responds, educators can receive real-time insights, tailoring the learning  experience and improving student performance. 

 In presentations, Priya looks at the cutting-edge work her company is carrying out,  and the lessons for training and education and as well as companies seeking to  innovate and emulate the startup ethos. She speaks about her entrepreneurial  experiences, especially as a non-technical person running a tech business, and  looks at what innovation is and how to embed it into a culture. She also tackles  diversity, talent and culture within organisations and wider areas of skills,  employment and the business environment.  

As well as starting businesses Priya has worked with government as a member of  the Department of Business, Education and Skills’ Entrepreneur Forum. She is a  regular contributor to BBC News’ and BBC World News’ review of global  headlines. She has also advised a number of education and skills organisations, and  was named as an Entrepreneur of the Year and in Management Today’s ’35  Women Under 35’ list.

Tim Stone was appointed Chairman of the NIA on 5 December 2018. Tim has a wealth of experience in infrastructure, nuclear power and finance, with several years’ experience working closely with government and industry in a variety of roles. He is a non-executive director of both the Arup Group board and Horizon Nuclear Power.

Until 2013, Tim was the Expert Chair of the Office for Nuclear Development in DECC and the Senior Advisor to successive Secretaries of State responsible for energy.

He has been awarded the Hinton Prize by the Nuclear Institute for outstanding contributions to the nuclear industry.

Stuart began his career as a 16 year-old electrical apprentice working on installations and maintenance of equipment. He joined the nuclear industry after completing an apprenticeship in 1986 at Heysham 2, working with the team on the installation and commissioning of the main computer control and protection systems. Following completion of his qualifications in electrical engineering he later graduated in Applied Physics after completing an honours degree at Manchester Polytechnic. He then went on to complete an MBA at Lancaster University - all part time while enjoying a career at Heysham 2 where he progressed through various engineering roles.

Following a spell in international business development associated with the acquisition of nuclear power plants in the USA, he returned to the UK at Dungeness B undertaking a variety of operations and engineering roles before being appointed as Deputy Station Director.  Stuart spent five years as Station Director at Hartlepool Power Station, leading several substantial engineering projects to restore the plant to operational service. Following the return to service of the units in 2009 he was appointed Safety and Technical Director. This was followed by taking over as MD Generation on 1 Jan 2014 responsible for the EDF Energy fleet of nuclear, coal gas and renewable assets.

Stuart is now the Managing Director of Hinkley Point C, and has held this post since the 8th September 2017, reporting to the CEO of EDF Energy.

Stuart has been married for the last 32 years and has three children and five grandchildren.

Zheng Dongshan is the Chief Executive Officer of CGN UK (also known as General Nuclear International, or GNI), with overall oversight and responsibility for CGN’s business activities in the UK.

Born in Hubei Province, China, Dongshan graduated from Xi’an Jiatong University before going on to receive a Masters from Huazhong University of Science & Technology.  He joined the Guangdong Nuclear Power Joint Venture Company Ltd (a subsidiary of CGN) in 1984 and trained in France to be a safety technical advisor.

He has held a number of roles within CGN, including: Deputy General Manager of the Daya Bay nuclear power station; General Manager of Yangjiang nuclear power station; and eventually General Manager of the China Nuclear Power Engineering Company, charged with taking forward CGN’s nuclear new build programme, before he came to the UK in 2016.  From 2008-2017 he was Senior Vice President of CGN.

Julia is the Nuclear Development Director for EDF Energy, and is working with Government to identify an innovative way for Sizewell C to be funded at best value to electricity consumers, and with potential investors and lenders to raise the investment required.

Julia joined EDF Energy in 2017, focussing on Sizewell C and the decommissioning of AGRs. Prior to her move to EDF, Julia was Head of Power and Renewables for UK, US & Europe at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP.  From HSF she led a cross-practice team advising on Hinkley Point C from 2006 until the Final Investment Decision in 2016.

Miles Vartan is the Supply Chain Manager for the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce managing and developing a supply chain database for the prospective new-build of Sizewell C.

Miles has in excess of 35 years of experience working in the supply chain and logistics sector with the majority of this time being based in Suffolk. With an excellent knowledge of the local supply chain based in and around the County, Miles and the Chamber’s Supply Chain team are in an ideal position to introduce Tier1 suppliers to potential local and regional contractors.

History:

Peter initially served a recognised apprenticeship with ICI as a control and instrumentation technician before moving to the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) in 1980.   Thereafter, Peter worked at Heysham 1 AGR Nuclear Power Station until 1997 before his employment commenced with Unite the Union.

Current Responsibilities:

Peter has current national responsibility for the energy and utilities’ sector which encompasses members in all energy companies throughout electricity, gas and water and includes all sub-divisions from generation, transmission, distribution, networks and retail.   The sector also comprises all of the nuclear estates governing fuel generation, retail and decommissioning.

The utilities’ sub-sector includes all 22 UK’s water companies which also incorporates the collection and distribution of waste.

Former Roles:

§  North West Deputy Regional Secretary

§  Regional Coordinating Officer

§  Regional Official responsible for energy and utilities

§  Regional Officer responsible for training and productivity

§  Recruitment Officer – Nuclear Electricity, Heysham 1 Power Station

Membership of Boards:

§  Health, Safety & Environmental National Committee.

§  National Industrial Sector Committee Secretary.

§  Chair of the Trades Unions for Safe Nuclear Energy (TUSNE).

§  NIC Board member.

Simon Newton has worked for Moltex Energy as Business Development Director since late 2018. He has responsibility for the commercial functions of the business, including marketing, fund-raising and sales. His background is in Sales and Marketing. 

Since 2005 Simon has run his own consulting and training business, including taking interim assignments in senior commercial positions in a variety of businesses. He has joined Moltex because it has a genuine chance to implement technology which can make a meaningful contribution to the fight against climate change.

Simon graduated with a degree in Physics from Bristol University before starting his career with IBM.

Mr Chris White is Director, Government Affairs (Business Development) at Urenco Limited, the company behind U-Battery, and one of the leading Uranium Enrichment Companies, operating four facilities across Europe and the USA.

Located in the United Kingdom, Mr White has responsibilities covering government affairs across the UK. Mr White is Chair of the World Nuclear Association’s Law Group, co-Chair of the Nuclear Industry Association’s Legal & Financial Affairs Working Group, a Member of FORATOM’s Legal Experts’ Group and Brexit Taskforce, a Member of NIRAB (Nuclear Innovation & Research Advisory Board) and the Organising Committee for the annual UK Civil Nuclear Showcase.

Mr White’s specific focus is leading on government engagement and outreach activities, to optimise the Group’s standing and influence with external stakeholders, in support of the Group’s strategic and commercial objectives.

Mr White’s previous experience includes serving as company secretary/head of legal at a utility company, and as an energy partner at two international law firms, based in the City of London.

Mr White holds a Master’s Degree in International Business Law from the University of Manchester, and is qualified as a Solicitor in the United Kingdom.

David Cuming is the MD for Emerging Markets & Technologies for DBD with the technical background as a Chemical Engineer based on 25 years in the global process & nuclear industries.

David has worked across the complete client engagement lifecycle, from multi-billion dollar consortium engagements, to large nuclear engineering projects through to small yet value creating technical reviews.

David is leading DBD’s due diligence and R&D projects for overseas reactors including a number of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR). Within this portfolio, David is leading DBD's AMR study for BEIS in collaboration with the Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology (INET), Tsinghua University, China. The AMR technology studied is the High Temperature Gas-Cooled Pebble-Bed Modular Reactor (HTR-PM) referencing the full-scale demonstration plant at Shidao Bay, Shangdong Province, China.

Jay Bhart joined Cavendish Nuclear in 2015 in a strategic relationship and business development role, based in Bristol. Currently Jay is seconded to Nuclear Industry Association as the Director for the Nuclear Sector Deal Programme Management Office.

He started his career as an engineer leaving school to complete an electro-mechanical apprenticeship with a fast moving consumer goods company. On completion of the apprenticeship, Jay went on to study a mechanical-aerospace engineering degree at the University of the West of England.

Since graduating, Jay has spent 19 years with Rolls-Royce in a variety of engineering, programme management and business development management roles in the aerospace and nuclear divisions. He has an MBA and is a chartered engineer with IMechE with experience of markets in UK, Europe, Asia, North and South America. I has previously worked for the Department of Energy and Climate on a secondment, helping to develop the country’s civil nuclear supply chain and skills strategy and also worked for Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre as industry advisor and acting director of business development .

This last year and a half Jay has been leading on the decommissioning and waste management proposal of the Nuclear Sector Deal and now heading up the Programme Management Office for the Nuclear Sector Deal.

Outside of work Jay’s main interests are family and instructing martial arts, prior to instructing competed at an international level representing the UK.

Valerie Drake has over 30 years’ experience in the nuclear sector during which she has held a variety of roles in decommissioning, waste and fuels management and has formerly represented the UK on several expert groups.

Valerie has led the technical strategy development of a number of decommissioning and waste management closure projects for both UK and non UK nuclear sites.  She recently completed a five year secondment from Cavendish Nuclear to Magnox Ltd where she was responsible for the Magnox integrated waste strategy and delivery of the associated permissioning activities.

Graham has acted as Managing Director of MEH Joint Venture since October 2018, integrating 5 significant industry leaders in construction together for the delivery of the Mechanical, Electrical and HVAC scope at Hinkley Point C. 

Immediately prior to joining the MEH Joint Venture, he was Completion Programme Manager at Urenco with responsibility for completing the £980m Tails Management Facility at Capenhurst.

With over 30 years’ experience in delivering major EPC projects internationally on both client and contractor roles, Graham has delivered large and complex projects worldwide across a variety of industries including Nuclear, Petrochemical and Pharmaceutical in USA, Denmark, Belgium, Ireland, Russia, India and the Middle East.

Graham has successful track record in forging positive, collaborative  relationships between diverse cultures and partners resulting in successful project outcomes.  He has significant specialism in recovering troubled projects and bringing them back under control leading towards a predictable result.

Beccy has worked in the nuclear sector in strategic skills and people development roles for the last 12 years, having previously worked within the people development field in the commercial and education sectors. 

Her current role is Head of Nuclear Skills Strategy for the Nuclear Skills Strategy Group, a collaborative group consisting of organisations across the nuclear sector, (civil and defence) working with government, regulators and trade-unions to ensure capacity and capability of the UK’s nuclear workforce.  

Beccy has had key involvement in developing the UK Nuclear Skills Strategic Plan, and the skills element of the Nuclear Sector Deal, a sector specific implementation of the UK government’s Industrial Strategy.  She also support the NSD Programme Management Office.  In doing so, Beccy regularly interacts with various government departments, most notably the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Education.

Beccy regularly presents at national and international skills forums, promoting the UK’s position in nuclear skills leadership.

Beccy has had the opportunity through her career to work with a number of significant organsiations, inside and outside of the nuclear sectors including:-  Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Magnox Ltd, Unilever PLC, Nelson Thornes Ltd, The Open University, Lloyds Register, and Barclays PLC.  

Jack Gritt is a Chartered Mathematician and a Member of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. With 35 years’ experience in the nuclear industry, Jack has held a number of positions including executive management, director of operations, programme and project management, organisational development, executive coaching, safety case management and performance and quality. In addition she is a champion for inclusion and diversity in the work place with a keen focus on the performance benefits that can be achieved via outstanding leadership in this field.

It was the early years of her career that Jack formed a passion for encouraging people in the nuclear industry, especially women, and she has a wealth of experience and insight through her journey from power station labourer to Executive Director.  She is currently the President of Women in Nuclear UK,  sits on the Board of Trustees for the Nuclear Institute and was recently appointed to the Executive Board of Women in Nuclear Global.

Through these roles she believes she can continue to build a future for nuclear power and create an environment where individuals can thrive in this exciting industry which offers endless opportunities. 

Jack has championed women in the industry throughout her career, as well as working in her local community as a councillor and school governor. She has always had a keen focus on helping women to manage their work/family balance, remain in employment whilst raising a family and to have the confidence to consider transferrable skills to explore new opportunities. This life long passion led her to becoming a founding member of WiN UK and is what continues to drive her commitment today.

Duncan Hawthorne was appointed Horizon CEO in May 2016 having been a non-executive Director of Horizon since 2013 and CEO of Bruce Power, one of the world’s largest nuclear power plants since it was formed in 2001.

He is the Former Chairman of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO).

He brings a wealth of industry experience having worked in the power generation business for 30 years, holding senior positions in power companies in the U.K., U.S. and Canada. 

Originally from Scotland, Duncan joined the electricity board as an apprentice with British Energy. At 21, he went to Strathclyde University in Scotland on a scholarship. Hawthorne progressed through all the engineering positions to director of British Energy and then board member.

He is a Fellow of both the Institution of Electrical Engineers and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Alan is Director Strategy and Business Development for Rolls-Royce’s SMR business, with responsibility for the development of the commercial partnerships, regional, customer opportunities, financial terms and government relationships. Alan also holds a corporate strategy role in Rolls-Royce assessing adjacent opportunities within the energy market. 

After completing a Masters Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Nottingham University, Alan joined Rolls-Royce on the graduate training programme in 1998.  His career in Rolls-Royce has covered multiple sectors including Submarines, Marine, Corporate Strategy, and now Nuclear.  Alan has also completed a Masters degree in Programme Management.

Alan has two children and is a keen skier.

Leon Flexman is responsible for Corporate Sustainability and National and local Stakeholder relations and communications   around Horizon’s two nuclear new build projects in Wales and England. He previously worked for RWE npower, a UK Utility with power generation, trading and supply businesses.  Prior to that he spent 7 years in international public relations consultancy Hill & Knowlton.  Leon has a BA in English Language and Literature and a post-graduate diploma in public and media relations from the Centre for Journalism Studies in Cardiff, Wales.

Lindsay is a sitting councillor for Leicester City Council, and a pro-nuclear environmental activist of many years. She holds a foundation engineering degree from Loughborough University and a Bachelor of Arts from De Montfort University. Her work is primarily focused on public acceptance and understanding of civilian nuclear technology, as well as advocating for its widespread deployment.

Jonathan Ford is City editor of the Financial Times. He was previously chief leader writer, and before that comment editor of Reuters. He had been deputy editor of Prospect, a British political and current affairs magazine, and was one of the founders and deputy editor of Breakingviews, an online financial commentary website. A graduate of Oxford university, he started his career in investment banking, working for Morgan Grenfell, now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank.

Albert Owen is a Welsh Labour Party politician and until recently was the Member of Parliament for Ynys Môn.

He attended Holyhead County Comprehensive School and left when he was sixteen for a career in the Merchant Navy where he was a seaman until 1992.

In 1995 he became an advisor in the Citizens Advice Bureau, specialising in welfare rights, and from 1997 to 2001 he managed the J. E. O'Toole Centre in Holyhead - a centre dedicated to the welfare, education and leisure of unemployed workers in Holyhead. In 1997 he gained a BA in Politics in 1997 from the University of York.

He took Ynys Môn at the 2001 election from Plaid Cymru and retained the seat at the four subsequent general elections.

During his time as an MP, he served as a member of several Select Committees, covering Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, International Development, Welsh Affairs, Energy and Climate Change, and the Panel of Chairs.

James leads the CBI’s Energy & Climate Change team, supporting policy development and campaigns, while speaking on behalf of the CBI and its members. He joined the CBI in early 2019 from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders where he led the political engagement on Brexit, the switch to low-emission vehicles and the future of diesel.

Prior to this he worked in a variety of roles at EDF Energy covering public affairs, media relations and corporate communications. Central to this was political and media engagement surrounding the Final Investment Decision and Government approval for the Hinkley Point C new nuclear power plant in 2017. James also supported efforts to secure life extensions for existing UK nuclear power stations, access to Contracts for Difference auctions for remote island wind projects, and the future of carbon pricing. James has also worked with a range of businesses in consultancy, including successful efforts to secure a package of mitigation measures for energy-intensive industries at risk from increased electricity costs following the introduction of the Carbon Price Floor in 2013.

As the Senior Vice President of Sales & Commercial Operations, David is responsible for the sales, commercial operations and business development for all of GE Hitachi's nuclear plant offerings. In addition, David has overall responsibility to manage the business partnership between GE and Hitachi.

Prior to his current role, David served as the Vice President of Product Management and International Nuclear Plant Projects, where he was responsible for product development, strategy and cost for all nuclear plant offerings, along with project management responsibility for key customer contracts and opportunities.

Prior to joining the Nuclear Plant Projects team in 2010, David worked for 6 years in Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF), GE's joint venture with Hitachi and Toshiba, as the Vice President of Customer Projects, Commercial Operations and Marketing, delivering fuel and engineering services  to the worldwide BWR fleet. David has over 33 years of service with GE, and held many diverse assignments in manufacturing, supply chain, sourcing and operations  for GE Energy, GE Aviation and GE Lighting. David is a 3-term member of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Civilian Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee (CINTAC), was the chairman from 2015 - 2017, for the World Nuclear Association's task force on Nuclear New Build Lesson-learning, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Pierre-Yves Cordier graduated as a chemical engineer in 1991 and went on to study for a PhD in the laboratories of the CEA (Atomic Energy Commission) in Fontenay-aux-Roses. He was then awarded a PhD in chemistry from the University of Clermont-Ferrand in 1996, and went on to work as a researcher in the CEA’s Marcoule centre, specializing in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. In 1999, he joined AREVA for the Japanese reprocessing plant project in Rokkasho-Mura, where he stayed until 2005 as team manager for chemical facilities. He then came back to the CEA and worked at the International Affairs division. In 2007, he was appointed Nuclear Counsellor at the French Embassy in Tokyo. He stayed until 2011, before being transferred to the same position in Beijing. In 2014, he was appointed manager for international cooperation at the CEA’s Nuclear Energy division. Since the beginning of 2018, he has been Nuclear Counsellor at the French Embassy in the UK.

David Hess is a Policy Analyst at the World Nuclear Association and part of the Harmony Programme where he helps the nuclear industry meet the challenge of providing 25% of global electricity by 2050. His main focus areas include nuclear technology, economics, sustainable development and now (increasingly) space exploration. He has previously served as staff director of the Capacity Optimization Working Group where he worked on initiatives to improve reactor performance, and as a writer and analyst for World Nuclear News and the WNA’s information papers. David completed his Honours in Physics at Monash University in Australia and a Masters Degree in Environmental Technology at Imperial College London.

Priya Lakhani is an entrepreneur who has founded a food business, a social  enterprise, and now leads a company developing the latest artificial intelligence  and big data technology to understand how the brain learns.  

Having trained as a barrister, Priya left the security of the legal profession to  pursue her passion for business. She founded the Masala Masala food brand and  built it from a kitchen table idea to a line of products stocked in major  supermarkets. After this initial success she went on establish a charity based on the  model that for every unit of a product sold, a life-changing item was donated (for  example, a meal, a vaccination) to those in need.  

Priya’s next business, Century Tech, is a company bringing together AI,  neuroscience and education. Century’s aim is to measure and simulate brain  responses to tuition, analyse what works for whom and how, and ultimately  produce personalised learning. By understanding how the brain learns and  responds, educators can receive real-time insights, tailoring the learning  experience and improving student performance. 

 In presentations, Priya looks at the cutting-edge work her company is carrying out,  and the lessons for training and education and as well as companies seeking to  innovate and emulate the startup ethos. She speaks about her entrepreneurial  experiences, especially as a non-technical person running a tech business, and  looks at what innovation is and how to embed it into a culture. She also tackles  diversity, talent and culture within organisations and wider areas of skills,  employment and the business environment.  

As well as starting businesses Priya has worked with government as a member of  the Department of Business, Education and Skills’ Entrepreneur Forum. She is a  regular contributor to BBC News’ and BBC World News’ review of global  headlines. She has also advised a number of education and skills organisations, and  was named as an Entrepreneur of the Year and in Management Today’s ’35  Women Under 35’ list.

Tim Stone was appointed Chairman of the NIA on 5 December 2018. Tim has a wealth of experience in infrastructure, nuclear power and finance, with several years’ experience working closely with government and industry in a variety of roles. He is a non-executive director of both the Arup Group board and Horizon Nuclear Power.

Until 2013, Tim was the Expert Chair of the Office for Nuclear Development in DECC and the Senior Advisor to successive Secretaries of State responsible for energy.

He has been awarded the Hinton Prize by the Nuclear Institute for outstanding contributions to the nuclear industry.

Stuart began his career as a 16 year-old electrical apprentice working on installations and maintenance of equipment. He joined the nuclear industry after completing an apprenticeship in 1986 at Heysham 2, working with the team on the installation and commissioning of the main computer control and protection systems. Following completion of his qualifications in electrical engineering he later graduated in Applied Physics after completing an honours degree at Manchester Polytechnic. He then went on to complete an MBA at Lancaster University - all part time while enjoying a career at Heysham 2 where he progressed through various engineering roles.

Following a spell in international business development associated with the acquisition of nuclear power plants in the USA, he returned to the UK at Dungeness B undertaking a variety of operations and engineering roles before being appointed as Deputy Station Director.  Stuart spent five years as Station Director at Hartlepool Power Station, leading several substantial engineering projects to restore the plant to operational service. Following the return to service of the units in 2009 he was appointed Safety and Technical Director. This was followed by taking over as MD Generation on 1 Jan 2014 responsible for the EDF Energy fleet of nuclear, coal gas and renewable assets.

Stuart is now the Managing Director of Hinkley Point C, and has held this post since the 8th September 2017, reporting to the CEO of EDF Energy.

Stuart has been married for the last 32 years and has three children and five grandchildren.

Zheng Dongshan is the Chief Executive Officer of CGN UK (also known as General Nuclear International, or GNI), with overall oversight and responsibility for CGN’s business activities in the UK.

Born in Hubei Province, China, Dongshan graduated from Xi’an Jiatong University before going on to receive a Masters from Huazhong University of Science & Technology.  He joined the Guangdong Nuclear Power Joint Venture Company Ltd (a subsidiary of CGN) in 1984 and trained in France to be a safety technical advisor.

He has held a number of roles within CGN, including: Deputy General Manager of the Daya Bay nuclear power station; General Manager of Yangjiang nuclear power station; and eventually General Manager of the China Nuclear Power Engineering Company, charged with taking forward CGN’s nuclear new build programme, before he came to the UK in 2016.  From 2008-2017 he was Senior Vice President of CGN.

Julia is the Nuclear Development Director for EDF Energy, and is working with Government to identify an innovative way for Sizewell C to be funded at best value to electricity consumers, and with potential investors and lenders to raise the investment required.

Julia joined EDF Energy in 2017, focussing on Sizewell C and the decommissioning of AGRs. Prior to her move to EDF, Julia was Head of Power and Renewables for UK, US & Europe at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP.  From HSF she led a cross-practice team advising on Hinkley Point C from 2006 until the Final Investment Decision in 2016.

Miles Vartan is the Supply Chain Manager for the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce managing and developing a supply chain database for the prospective new-build of Sizewell C.

Miles has in excess of 35 years of experience working in the supply chain and logistics sector with the majority of this time being based in Suffolk. With an excellent knowledge of the local supply chain based in and around the County, Miles and the Chamber’s Supply Chain team are in an ideal position to introduce Tier1 suppliers to potential local and regional contractors.

History:

Peter initially served a recognised apprenticeship with ICI as a control and instrumentation technician before moving to the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) in 1980.   Thereafter, Peter worked at Heysham 1 AGR Nuclear Power Station until 1997 before his employment commenced with Unite the Union.

Current Responsibilities:

Peter has current national responsibility for the energy and utilities’ sector which encompasses members in all energy companies throughout electricity, gas and water and includes all sub-divisions from generation, transmission, distribution, networks and retail.   The sector also comprises all of the nuclear estates governing fuel generation, retail and decommissioning.

The utilities’ sub-sector includes all 22 UK’s water companies which also incorporates the collection and distribution of waste.

Former Roles:

§  North West Deputy Regional Secretary

§  Regional Coordinating Officer

§  Regional Official responsible for energy and utilities

§  Regional Officer responsible for training and productivity

§  Recruitment Officer – Nuclear Electricity, Heysham 1 Power Station

Membership of Boards:

§  Health, Safety & Environmental National Committee.

§  National Industrial Sector Committee Secretary.

§  Chair of the Trades Unions for Safe Nuclear Energy (TUSNE).

§  NIC Board member.

Simon Newton has worked for Moltex Energy as Business Development Director since late 2018. He has responsibility for the commercial functions of the business, including marketing, fund-raising and sales. His background is in Sales and Marketing. 

Since 2005 Simon has run his own consulting and training business, including taking interim assignments in senior commercial positions in a variety of businesses. He has joined Moltex because it has a genuine chance to implement technology which can make a meaningful contribution to the fight against climate change.

Simon graduated with a degree in Physics from Bristol University before starting his career with IBM.

Mr Chris White is Director, Government Affairs (Business Development) at Urenco Limited, the company behind U-Battery, and one of the leading Uranium Enrichment Companies, operating four facilities across Europe and the USA.

Located in the United Kingdom, Mr White has responsibilities covering government affairs across the UK. Mr White is Chair of the World Nuclear Association’s Law Group, co-Chair of the Nuclear Industry Association’s Legal & Financial Affairs Working Group, a Member of FORATOM’s Legal Experts’ Group and Brexit Taskforce, a Member of NIRAB (Nuclear Innovation & Research Advisory Board) and the Organising Committee for the annual UK Civil Nuclear Showcase.

Mr White’s specific focus is leading on government engagement and outreach activities, to optimise the Group’s standing and influence with external stakeholders, in support of the Group’s strategic and commercial objectives.

Mr White’s previous experience includes serving as company secretary/head of legal at a utility company, and as an energy partner at two international law firms, based in the City of London.

Mr White holds a Master’s Degree in International Business Law from the University of Manchester, and is qualified as a Solicitor in the United Kingdom.

David Cuming is the MD for Emerging Markets & Technologies for DBD with the technical background as a Chemical Engineer based on 25 years in the global process & nuclear industries.

David has worked across the complete client engagement lifecycle, from multi-billion dollar consortium engagements, to large nuclear engineering projects through to small yet value creating technical reviews.

David is leading DBD’s due diligence and R&D projects for overseas reactors including a number of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR). Within this portfolio, David is leading DBD's AMR study for BEIS in collaboration with the Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology (INET), Tsinghua University, China. The AMR technology studied is the High Temperature Gas-Cooled Pebble-Bed Modular Reactor (HTR-PM) referencing the full-scale demonstration plant at Shidao Bay, Shangdong Province, China.

Jay Bhart joined Cavendish Nuclear in 2015 in a strategic relationship and business development role, based in Bristol. Currently Jay is seconded to Nuclear Industry Association as the Director for the Nuclear Sector Deal Programme Management Office.

He started his career as an engineer leaving school to complete an electro-mechanical apprenticeship with a fast moving consumer goods company. On completion of the apprenticeship, Jay went on to study a mechanical-aerospace engineering degree at the University of the West of England.

Since graduating, Jay has spent 19 years with Rolls-Royce in a variety of engineering, programme management and business development management roles in the aerospace and nuclear divisions. He has an MBA and is a chartered engineer with IMechE with experience of markets in UK, Europe, Asia, North and South America. I has previously worked for the Department of Energy and Climate on a secondment, helping to develop the country’s civil nuclear supply chain and skills strategy and also worked for Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre as industry advisor and acting director of business development .

This last year and a half Jay has been leading on the decommissioning and waste management proposal of the Nuclear Sector Deal and now heading up the Programme Management Office for the Nuclear Sector Deal.

Outside of work Jay’s main interests are family and instructing martial arts, prior to instructing competed at an international level representing the UK.

Valerie Drake has over 30 years’ experience in the nuclear sector during which she has held a variety of roles in decommissioning, waste and fuels management and has formerly represented the UK on several expert groups.

Valerie has led the technical strategy development of a number of decommissioning and waste management closure projects for both UK and non UK nuclear sites.  She recently completed a five year secondment from Cavendish Nuclear to Magnox Ltd where she was responsible for the Magnox integrated waste strategy and delivery of the associated permissioning activities.

Graham has acted as Managing Director of MEH Joint Venture since October 2018, integrating 5 significant industry leaders in construction together for the delivery of the Mechanical, Electrical and HVAC scope at Hinkley Point C. 

Immediately prior to joining the MEH Joint Venture, he was Completion Programme Manager at Urenco with responsibility for completing the £980m Tails Management Facility at Capenhurst.

With over 30 years’ experience in delivering major EPC projects internationally on both client and contractor roles, Graham has delivered large and complex projects worldwide across a variety of industries including Nuclear, Petrochemical and Pharmaceutical in USA, Denmark, Belgium, Ireland, Russia, India and the Middle East.

Graham has successful track record in forging positive, collaborative  relationships between diverse cultures and partners resulting in successful project outcomes.  He has significant specialism in recovering troubled projects and bringing them back under control leading towards a predictable result.

Beccy has worked in the nuclear sector in strategic skills and people development roles for the last 12 years, having previously worked within the people development field in the commercial and education sectors. 

Her current role is Head of Nuclear Skills Strategy for the Nuclear Skills Strategy Group, a collaborative group consisting of organisations across the nuclear sector, (civil and defence) working with government, regulators and trade-unions to ensure capacity and capability of the UK’s nuclear workforce.  

Beccy has had key involvement in developing the UK Nuclear Skills Strategic Plan, and the skills element of the Nuclear Sector Deal, a sector specific implementation of the UK government’s Industrial Strategy.  She also support the NSD Programme Management Office.  In doing so, Beccy regularly interacts with various government departments, most notably the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Education.

Beccy regularly presents at national and international skills forums, promoting the UK’s position in nuclear skills leadership.

Beccy has had the opportunity through her career to work with a number of significant organsiations, inside and outside of the nuclear sectors including:-  Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Magnox Ltd, Unilever PLC, Nelson Thornes Ltd, The Open University, Lloyds Register, and Barclays PLC.  

Jack Gritt is a Chartered Mathematician and a Member of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. With 35 years’ experience in the nuclear industry, Jack has held a number of positions including executive management, director of operations, programme and project management, organisational development, executive coaching, safety case management and performance and quality. In addition she is a champion for inclusion and diversity in the work place with a keen focus on the performance benefits that can be achieved via outstanding leadership in this field.

It was the early years of her career that Jack formed a passion for encouraging people in the nuclear industry, especially women, and she has a wealth of experience and insight through her journey from power station labourer to Executive Director.  She is currently the President of Women in Nuclear UK,  sits on the Board of Trustees for the Nuclear Institute and was recently appointed to the Executive Board of Women in Nuclear Global.

Through these roles she believes she can continue to build a future for nuclear power and create an environment where individuals can thrive in this exciting industry which offers endless opportunities. 

Jack has championed women in the industry throughout her career, as well as working in her local community as a councillor and school governor. She has always had a keen focus on helping women to manage their work/family balance, remain in employment whilst raising a family and to have the confidence to consider transferrable skills to explore new opportunities. This life long passion led her to becoming a founding member of WiN UK and is what continues to drive her commitment today.

Duncan Hawthorne was appointed Horizon CEO in May 2016 having been a non-executive Director of Horizon since 2013 and CEO of Bruce Power, one of the world’s largest nuclear power plants since it was formed in 2001.

He is the Former Chairman of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO).

He brings a wealth of industry experience having worked in the power generation business for 30 years, holding senior positions in power companies in the U.K., U.S. and Canada. 

Originally from Scotland, Duncan joined the electricity board as an apprentice with British Energy. At 21, he went to Strathclyde University in Scotland on a scholarship. Hawthorne progressed through all the engineering positions to director of British Energy and then board member.

He is a Fellow of both the Institution of Electrical Engineers and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Alan is Director Strategy and Business Development for Rolls-Royce’s SMR business, with responsibility for the development of the commercial partnerships, regional, customer opportunities, financial terms and government relationships. Alan also holds a corporate strategy role in Rolls-Royce assessing adjacent opportunities within the energy market. 

After completing a Masters Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Nottingham University, Alan joined Rolls-Royce on the graduate training programme in 1998.  His career in Rolls-Royce has covered multiple sectors including Submarines, Marine, Corporate Strategy, and now Nuclear.  Alan has also completed a Masters degree in Programme Management.

Alan has two children and is a keen skier.

Leon Flexman is responsible for Corporate Sustainability and National and local Stakeholder relations and communications   around Horizon’s two nuclear new build projects in Wales and England. He previously worked for RWE npower, a UK Utility with power generation, trading and supply businesses.  Prior to that he spent 7 years in international public relations consultancy Hill & Knowlton.  Leon has a BA in English Language and Literature and a post-graduate diploma in public and media relations from the Centre for Journalism Studies in Cardiff, Wales.

Lindsay is a sitting councillor for Leicester City Council, and a pro-nuclear environmental activist of many years. She holds a foundation engineering degree from Loughborough University and a Bachelor of Arts from De Montfort University. Her work is primarily focused on public acceptance and understanding of civilian nuclear technology, as well as advocating for its widespread deployment.

Jonathan Ford is City editor of the Financial Times. He was previously chief leader writer, and before that comment editor of Reuters. He had been deputy editor of Prospect, a British political and current affairs magazine, and was one of the founders and deputy editor of Breakingviews, an online financial commentary website. A graduate of Oxford university, he started his career in investment banking, working for Morgan Grenfell, now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank.

Albert Owen is a Welsh Labour Party politician and until recently was the Member of Parliament for Ynys Môn.

He attended Holyhead County Comprehensive School and left when he was sixteen for a career in the Merchant Navy where he was a seaman until 1992.

In 1995 he became an advisor in the Citizens Advice Bureau, specialising in welfare rights, and from 1997 to 2001 he managed the J. E. O'Toole Centre in Holyhead - a centre dedicated to the welfare, education and leisure of unemployed workers in Holyhead. In 1997 he gained a BA in Politics in 1997 from the University of York.

He took Ynys Môn at the 2001 election from Plaid Cymru and retained the seat at the four subsequent general elections.

During his time as an MP, he served as a member of several Select Committees, covering Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, International Development, Welsh Affairs, Energy and Climate Change, and the Panel of Chairs.

James leads the CBI’s Energy & Climate Change team, supporting policy development and campaigns, while speaking on behalf of the CBI and its members. He joined the CBI in early 2019 from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders where he led the political engagement on Brexit, the switch to low-emission vehicles and the future of diesel.

Prior to this he worked in a variety of roles at EDF Energy covering public affairs, media relations and corporate communications. Central to this was political and media engagement surrounding the Final Investment Decision and Government approval for the Hinkley Point C new nuclear power plant in 2017. James also supported efforts to secure life extensions for existing UK nuclear power stations, access to Contracts for Difference auctions for remote island wind projects, and the future of carbon pricing. James has also worked with a range of businesses in consultancy, including successful efforts to secure a package of mitigation measures for energy-intensive industries at risk from increased electricity costs following the introduction of the Carbon Price Floor in 2013.

As the Senior Vice President of Sales & Commercial Operations, David is responsible for the sales, commercial operations and business development for all of GE Hitachi's nuclear plant offerings. In addition, David has overall responsibility to manage the business partnership between GE and Hitachi.

Prior to his current role, David served as the Vice President of Product Management and International Nuclear Plant Projects, where he was responsible for product development, strategy and cost for all nuclear plant offerings, along with project management responsibility for key customer contracts and opportunities.

Prior to joining the Nuclear Plant Projects team in 2010, David worked for 6 years in Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF), GE's joint venture with Hitachi and Toshiba, as the Vice President of Customer Projects, Commercial Operations and Marketing, delivering fuel and engineering services  to the worldwide BWR fleet. David has over 33 years of service with GE, and held many diverse assignments in manufacturing, supply chain, sourcing and operations  for GE Energy, GE Aviation and GE Lighting. David is a 3-term member of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Civilian Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee (CINTAC), was the chairman from 2015 - 2017, for the World Nuclear Association's task force on Nuclear New Build Lesson-learning, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Pierre-Yves Cordier graduated as a chemical engineer in 1991 and went on to study for a PhD in the laboratories of the CEA (Atomic Energy Commission) in Fontenay-aux-Roses. He was then awarded a PhD in chemistry from the University of Clermont-Ferrand in 1996, and went on to work as a researcher in the CEA’s Marcoule centre, specializing in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. In 1999, he joined AREVA for the Japanese reprocessing plant project in Rokkasho-Mura, where he stayed until 2005 as team manager for chemical facilities. He then came back to the CEA and worked at the International Affairs division. In 2007, he was appointed Nuclear Counsellor at the French Embassy in Tokyo. He stayed until 2011, before being transferred to the same position in Beijing. In 2014, he was appointed manager for international cooperation at the CEA’s Nuclear Energy division. Since the beginning of 2018, he has been Nuclear Counsellor at the French Embassy in the UK.

David Hess is a Policy Analyst at the World Nuclear Association and part of the Harmony Programme where he helps the nuclear industry meet the challenge of providing 25% of global electricity by 2050. His main focus areas include nuclear technology, economics, sustainable development and now (increasingly) space exploration. He has previously served as staff director of the Capacity Optimization Working Group where he worked on initiatives to improve reactor performance, and as a writer and analyst for World Nuclear News and the WNA’s information papers. David completed his Honours in Physics at Monash University in Australia and a Masters Degree in Environmental Technology at Imperial College London.